MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

FARC and France exchange veiled warning messages

FARC Raul Reyes was in contact with France officials

The killing of Raul Reyes, spokesperson and second in command of the Colombian FARC guerrillas, during an incursion by Colombian troops in Ecuador, is a “serious blow to the possibilities of a humanitarian exchange and to a political solution to the conflict” said the rebel group in a message released on Tuesday.

The message also reveals that FARC has named a new official spokesperson to succeed Mr Reyes, "Joaquin Gomez", who has been described in the Colombian press as a "second line man" in the FARC command who belongs to the military wing of the organization. According to the FARC message Mr. Reyes, from his jungle camp in Ecuador, was fully dedicated to obtain an interview with French president Nicholas Sarkozy, with the mediation of Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, to talk about the release of the former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt which was kidnapped by FARC in February 2002. On Monday Paris sources confirmed contacts between French government officials and FARC for the liberation of the Franco-Colombian hostage Betancourt. However on Tuesday from Paris Prime Minister Francois Fillon warned FARC that in the current context, the death in captivity of Ms Betancourt would only bring upon the group "reprobation from the entire world". "If FARC wish for a solution to the situation they are in now, which is a war situation, they must first begin with a gesture to the international community, the immediate release for humanitarian reasons, not for political reasons of Ingrid Betancourt", said Fillon interviewed by French television. Mr. Fillon said the life of Ms Betancourt "was in danger with or without the execution" last weekend of the FARC group number 2, Raul Reyes during the military operation in the Colombian-Ecuadorian border area. But what is really worrying "is the climate created among the different countries in the region", added Fillon. "We must call on all sides to act with calm", as President Sarkozy has requested and above all "show that the death of Ingrid Betancourt would only bring upon FARC the reprobation from the entire world". The FARC message includes a homage to Reyes underlining that "we will remember Raul with caring love, a man who outstood for his solid revolutionary spirit, perseverance, tenacity and efficiency in letting the international community know the truth about FARC as a revolutionary army and his fortitude in the dynamics of the Bolivarian strategy of continental unity", adds the release. Incoming spokesperson Gomez whose real name allegedly is Milton Tonel Redondo is also responsible for FARC finances in the south of Colombia and United States has a 2.5 million US dollars reward for his capture.